Sienna barely breathed.
Kael's grip on his dagger never wavered, his body wound tight like a predator ready to strike.
The man across from them didn't look the least bit concerned. If anything, he looked entertained. His amber eyes gleamed in the dim light, scanning them with quiet amusement.
Sienna straightened, forcing calm into her voice. "We didn't mean to trespass."
The man tilted his head, considering her. "And yet, here you are."
His tone was smooth, casual. But Sienna wasn't fooled. There was an edge beneath it, something sharp and knowing.
Kael's stance didn't shift. "If this place belongs to you, we'll leave."
The man smirked. "You think it's that simple?"
Sienna's fingers curled into fists at her sides. "It should be."
The stranger took a step forward, his gaze flicking to Kael's dagger. "You don't need that."
Kael didn't lower it.
The man exhaled, shaking his head. "You're jumpy."
Sienna narrowed her eyes. "Can you blame us?"
The stranger studied her for a long moment, something unreadable in his gaze. Then, with a sigh, he muttered, "You're lucky I found you first."
A warning.
Sienna tensed. "What do you mean?"
The man's expression remained unreadable. "This land belongs to my pack. Strangers don't usually walk away from here."
Kael's grip tightened. "Are you saying we're prisoners?"
The man's brow lifted. "I'm saying you're outnumbered."
Sienna's stomach clenched. She let her senses expand, listening, feeling. The air was thick with the scent of wolves. More than just the one in front of them.
They weren't alone.
Kael must have realized it too because he subtly shifted closer to her, muscles coiled and ready.
The man smirked. "Relax. If we wanted you dead, we wouldn't be talking."
Not exactly reassuring.
Sienna inhaled slowly. "So what now?"
The man's gaze lingered on her before he shrugged. "You'll meet my Alpha. He decides what happens next."
Kael muttered a curse under his breath.
Sienna squared her shoulders. "Fine."
The man nodded and turned toward the entrance. "Follow me."
Kael hesitated. "And if we refuse?"
The stranger chuckled, flashing a hint of fang. "Then I'll let them come to you."
A howl echoed in the distance. Low. Lurking.
A silent message.
Sienna met Kael's gaze. They had no choice.
With a slow breath, she nodded.
Kael reluctantly lowered his dagger a little and they followed the stranger deeper into the ruins.
The air inside was thick with the scent of damp stone and aged wood, but beneath it, Sienna caught something else, something wild. The presence of wolves pressed against her senses, hidden in the shadows.
Kael stayed close, his steps measured. He didn't trust their so-called host. Neither did she.
Their guide moved with ease, his confidence effortless. He belonged here.
Sienna studied him carefully. He was lean but strong, his movements fluid, his amber eyes sharp. He was dangerous. That much was obvious.
"How many of you are here?" she asked.
The man glanced at her, then smirked. "Enough."
Kael muttered something under his breath.
The corridor opened into a larger chamber, moonlight spilling through cracks in the ceiling. Long tables lay in splintered heaps, broken chairs pushed against the walls. Above them, a rusted chandelier swayed slightly, disturbed by some unseen force.
Sienna shivered.
The man stopped in the center of the room and turned to them. "Wait here."
Kael stiffened. "Not a chance."
That smirk again. "Relax, If we wanted you dead, you wouldn't have made it this far."
Sienna didn't like how easily he said that. How certain he sounded.
Without another word, he disappeared through a side door, leaving them alone in the eerie silence.
Sienna exhaled sharply. "Well, this is going great."
Kael's jaw tensed. "We need to get out of here."
She scanned the darkened corridors. "Not without knowing where we're going. We could run straight into more of them."
Kael muttered another curse.
Then.
A noise.
Low. Barely there.
Sienna's breath hitched. She turned slowly, ears straining.
Another sound. A soft scrape against stone.
Kael moved closer.
Sienna's skin prickled. They weren't alone.
A shadow shifted near the far end of the hall. Then another.
Her stomach clenched.
There were more of them.
Then, the door their guide had vanished through creaked open.
He stepped back inside but he wasn't alone.
Two more figures followed. One was taller, broader, his expression unreadable. The other was lean, his sharp features curled in amusement.
But it was the last man who made Sienna's breath catch.
He stepped forward, his presence commanding.
Older than the others, but not by much. Dark hair streaked with silver at the temples. A strong jaw. Piercing eyes. Power radiated off him, thick and undeniable.
Sienna knew who he was before he even spoke.
The Alpha.
His gaze swept over them, assessing, calculating. Then he spoke, his voice deep, controlled.
"Who are you?"
Sienna forced herself to hold his stare. "We mean no harm."
The Alpha didn't blink. "That's not what I asked."
Kael's posture stiffened. "We were just passing through."
The Alpha's lips curled slightly. "Through my land?"
Sienna swallowed. "We didn't know it was claimed."
A low chuckle from the leaner man. "That's a lie."
Sienna's jaw tightened. "It's not."
The Alpha tilted his head. "Then why are you here?"
Sienna hesitated. They could lie, but he'd see right through it.
She chose the truth—at least, part of it. "We were in the cursed forest. We barely made it out. This was the first shelter we found."
A beat of silence.
Then something flickered in the Alpha's eyes.
"You came from the forest?" His voice was quieter, but no less intense.
Kael frowned. "Yeah. Why?"
The three werewolves exchanged glances.
The Alpha's expression darkened. "No one survives that place."
Sienna's stomach clenched.
"Well," she said, forcing a smile she didn't feel, "we did."
The Alpha didn't look convinced. He stepped closer, stopping just a few feet away. "And yet, you don't smell like death."
Sienna stiffened.
The lean man smirked. "What he means is… people who escape the forest don't come back right."
Kael's grip on his dagger tightened.
The Alpha studied them, gaze sharp, searching.
Then, after what felt like an eternity, he exhaled.
"Take them to the lower hall," he ordered.
The lean man grinned. "Guests?"
"Prisoners," the Alpha corrected.
Kael bristled. "Wait. "
Two werewolves moved before he could react, grabbing him with inhuman speed.
Sienna barely had time to process before she was seized, their strength overwhelming.
Kael fought, but they twisted the dagger from his grip with ease.
Sienna's pulse pounded. "You said we weren't in danger!"
The Alpha met her gaze, expression unreadable.
"You're not," he said. "Yet."
Then, the doors slammed shut behind them.